Subjective Expectations and Income Processes in Rural India

This paper uses data on directly elicited individual subjective expectations to analyse the process that generates the income of poor households

Abstract

This paper uses unique primary data on directly elicited individual subjective expectations to analyse and characterize the process that generates the income of poor, rural Indian households. We validate and use responses to subjective expectations questions and a parametric assumption to fit a household‐specific probability distribution for future income. Combining computed moments from this distribution with data for actual current income, we specify and estimate a dynamic model of household income. We find that our households face a very persistent income process. Our paper is one of the first that uses subjective expectations data to model income processes.

This is an output from the ‘Delivering Inclusive Financial Development and Growth’ project

Citation

Attanasio, O. and Augsburg, B. (2016), Subjective Expectations and Income Processes in Rural India. Economica, 83: 416-442. 

Subjective Expectations and Income Processes in Rural India

Updates to this page

Published 1 April 2016